An effective coffee grinder can transform your morning cup from average to excellent. If you’re looking to upgrade your coffee game, our team had the chance to review the Comandante manual grinder, which is known for producing high-quality grounds.
Below, we’ll examine how this popular product fairs in areas like grind consistency, speed, capacity, design, and portability. To learn whether this grinder is worth purchasing, keep reading for our full review!
Product Overview
Comandante is a German-based manufacturer that produces manual grinders with a mission to deliver quality hand mills for specialty coffee products and drinks.
The product contains a stainless-steel core grinder that utilizes geometry to cut through the coffee beans for more consistent grind results without creating dust.
Comandante’s ceramic burrs cut the beans with a “push and squeeze” method, which results in an optimal balance of acidity and fruitiness.
Here are a few of the critical Comandante MK3 specifications:
- Body Type: Wood Veneer, Stainless Steel
- Burr Materials: High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel (High-Alloyed, Patented)
- Axle and Crank: Stainless Steel
- Crank Knob: 100% Natural Oak Wood
- Engine Frame: BPA-Free Eastman Titan
Things We Like About the Comandante
- The build is strong and has a long lifespan.
- Sleek design that comes in a variety of 6 different colors, including red, burgundy, green, dark grey, purple, and classic wood.
- Stainless steel burrs are made from an advanced alloy process, resulting in a more uniform grind result.
Room for Improvement
- It’s expensive and may not be suitable for someone on a budget.
- It isn’t suitable for more than 6 cups at a time – best for single people or small families.
- The glass platform is delicate and susceptible to breakage.
Features & Benefits
There are several reasons why Comandante coffee grinders are some of the most respected products on the market.
Built upon quality materials and processes, the machine offers a consistent burr grind, a durable exterior design, and a respectable grinding capacity for its compact size.
The Comandante offers several other features and benefits that make it a great choice for coffee lovers, which we’ll examine further below:
High-Precision Burrs
The Comandante burrs deliver a robust and sharp feature to help produce a much more uniform grind, leveraging geometry principles with its Nitro Blade structure.
The grinder’s center shaft rests on double-axle bearings, which fix the burrs in the correct place to eliminate wobbling. This consistent structure is what produces a reliable grind with every use!
The small size of the conical burrs packs a big punch and slices through coffee efficiently because of its sharp design.
Compared to its competitors, Comandante refines and processes its burrs through a much more rigorous system.
Sleek Design & Build Quality
The C40’s compact design brings a lot of joy to the at-home barista!
Apart from its six unique colors, the advanced burr fixture design offers a functional and fashionable layout, checking both boxes when it comes to high performance and beautiful design.
The build quality of the Comandante hand grinder stacks up against many competitors in the industry. It delivers both wood and metal options for the grinder body, and the overall weight suggests that it’s built for long-term use.
The grinder handle also conveniently attaches to the top part of the grinder, featuring a wooden knob. The knob’s oak material is from German’s Black Forest, contributing to its impressive design and overall look. Comandante’s precise manufacturing approach, including the handmade design features, offers an old-fashioned but functional formula.
Grinding Capabilities
The grinding capabilities and capacity of the Comandante are some of its more redeeming qualities. It utilizes a stepped adjustment system for a more uniform grind, striking the perfect balance of fine and coarse. The resulting grounds are suitable for either Turkish coffee or a French press.
Because Comandante improves its product quality with its newer models, the grinds dispense much more evenly. When you compare the MKIII with the MKII, the latest grinder model delivers a faster and smoother alternative.
The grinding accuracy also delivers a key benefit within the Comandante product. Although the premium baristas aim for the most precise adjustable grinder, the Comandante historically delivers a respectable level of accuracy and stability for the more particular drinkers.
Adjusting the grind settings is also simple and straightforward with the Comandante grinder. By unscrewing the grind catcher and twisting the knob, you can change the grind settings to your individual preference.
Even when you take apart and reassemble the product, the grind setting will remain the same as the previous one, making for an easier cleaning process!
Portability
Because the Comandante C40 comes in a small, compact design, it is the perfect “on-the-go” grinding product. The grinder only weighs around 740 grams, which is easy to attach to a travel bag, suitcase, or backpack.
The Comandante grinder does come with a couple of limiting factors, however. Although it is lighter than larger capacity industry grinders, it’s heavier than comparable hand grinders made for travel.
The glass catcher for grinds is another downside – compared to the strong wooden components, it’s much more prone to break if dropped.
Capacity
Given the grinder’s smaller size, it’s remarkable how much coffee it can grind. Compared to products like the Porlex and Hario Slim Mill, it’s one of the smallest alternatives available.
However, when you compare grinding capacity among these three, the Comandante comes out on top.
The C40 MKIII can grind up to 40 grams of coffee, which translates to 4-6 cups. This capacity may not be suitable for large families, but you get the most bang for your buck with Comandante’s compact size and design!
Convenient Maintenance
Maintaining and cleaning the Comandante grinder is very easy. Because of the simplistic design of the grinder, taking it apart is not a huge event.
Much like the manual hand coffee grinders, you can implement a softer cleaning brush to the burrs every 30 days to filter out any excess grounds that could be stuck inside.
Things To Consider Before Buying a Coffee Grinder
A new coffee grinder can put a dent in your spending. So, before you make the final decision on which grinder to purchase, check out the key features below to see which ones meet your personal needs:
(Check out our coffee grinder buying guide here.)
Type of Coffee Grinder
As you search for the ideal coffee grinder, you will find two primary options- a blade grinder and a burr grinder. Each provides a different quality level for your needs, which we’ll break down below:
Blade grinders, also known as manual grinders, are a common choice because they are cost-effective. However, the lower cost sacrifices quality.
Blade grinders are usually inconsistent because some of the beans will come out in a powder, while some will result in a partially coarse substance.
Although blade grinders work well with spices or cheaper coffee types, they are not as durable as the market’s high-end options.
Burr grinders enable you to get the optimal flavor from your coffee. These grinder types offer a higher level of quality than blade grinders because they make ground coffee more consistent and uniform. You will usually discover two different types of burr grinders:
- Conical – quieter and more affordable grinders
- Flat burr – slightly more expensive but deliver the most consistent particle size
Consistency and Particle Size
Particle size is one of the most vital considerations when searching for a new grinder. It directly impacts the flavor and smells that you get from your cup of coffee.
Your coffee bean quality is a small factor in this consistency, but you want to ensure you invest in a product that grinds it to your liking right before you brew.
Speed
Speed is another critical factor because it reflects the quality and endurance of the grinder. High speed may sound like a positive feature, but it usually signifies a cheaper product with a shorter lifespan.
A higher-speed motor means it creates more heat, which could burn the coffee and impact the aroma and flavor. Direct your focus toward products with a slower grind speed.
Capacity
The different grinder products will contain a set amount of coffee beans for each use. You typically get more flavor from your coffee if you grind your beans right before brewing, so you don’t need a high capacity.
If you live alone, a smaller capacity will work. But if the grinder is intended to accommodate you and your family or roommates, plan accordingly.
Alternatives & Conclusion
The Comandante grinder is one of the best manual coffee grinders on the market because of its sharp, durable, and stainless steel burrs, which produce consistent grounds and flavorful coffee or espresso. The grinder delivers quality grounds with an optimal balance of fruitiness and acidity, which is perfect for coffee fanatics and baristas alike.
Overall, the Comandante packs a lot of value into its smaller hand grinder, given its artisan materials and delightful color designs.
However, if you’d rather go for an electric grinder, check out these products that offer more grinding capacity or a lower price:
- 1ZPresso Manual Coffee Grinder – if you want a grinder that’s super intuitive to use, this one has an external grind adjustment so you can change your grind size conveniently.
- Breville Smart Grinder Coffee Machine – this grinder can be programmed for your ideal preferences and repeated use, featuring conical burrs with various grind options.
- Oxo Burr Grinder – if you’re catering to larger groups of people, this grinder can do all the work while offering similar benefits as the Comandante, including a compact design and consistent grounds.
Happy Caffeinating!
Comandante Grinder Review: Our In-depth, Expert Opinion
Unveiling the prowess of an impressive manual coffee grinder in this comprehensive and insightful Comandante Grinder review.
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